College Resources

Your Orientation Team

Meet your Orientation Team (O-Team)! We are here to welcome you to Westmont College and answer any questions you may have as you make the transition to college life. Each new student will be part of a small group at Orientation led by an O-Team member.

Angela D'Amour

Greetings New Students! My name is Angela D'Amour and I serve as the Director of Campus Life where I oversee the Orientation program, among other responsibilities. I originally hail from Beverly, MA, however, Santa Barbara has begun to feel like home in the five years since I arrived. I spend my time outside of work building train tracks with my son, tickling my daughter, dreaming with my husband, and getting out for great trail runs. A highlight of my year is the day that you arrive on campus in August. You bring with you passion, potential and amazing possibilities. You are in for a fabulous adventure at Westmont and the Orientation Team and I can't wait to set you up for success.

Kenny Chism

Major: Biology: Ecology, Evolution, Natural History

Hometown: Livermore, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

Westmont is a place where I feel comfortable being me. I can always find someone to talk to about what's on my mind, and someone to explore the beauty of life with. That could be friends in my dorm, or the professors, who care so much about students on a personal level. The community here is unreal.

Sabrina Dawson

Major: Art History & English

Hometown: Abilene, TX

What do you love about Westmont?

Westmont is an extremely supportive community. There have been countless times when I have just needed something, big or small, and at least 5 people were always there to help me. Be it professors or fellow students, Westmont will be there to support you in even your craziest moments. I could not be more grateful.

Fun Fact: There is always that person in your life that gets a little crazy right around Christmas time due to their exuberant passion for the holiday. If you don't currently have this person in your life, then you will be meeting one very soon because I just so happen to be one of these people. Now I know that most people get excited about Christmas, but I start going all out right around mid-October. I am one of those people who celebrates year-round, much to the dismay of my freshman roommates, because I think that God gave us such a precious gift that it should be celebrated constantly. I also have an affinity for cheesy Christmas movies of the romantic comedy genre, which only seems to perpetuate this cycle even more. So, if you ever want some hot cocoa/tea, glitter, snowflakes, and a good ABC/Hallmark Christmas movie in the middle of the year, come find me!

What do you wish you had packed for college?

I wish I had brought so many more photos of my family and friends. About 3 weeks into school, I ended up scrounging up whatever photos I had on my computer to get them printed and sent to me. It would have been nice to have more of my favorite smiles to grace my walls when I missed people most.

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

Books! I am bookworm and thought I would have just as much time to read in college as I did in high school. Such a naive thought! What time I did have I spent with all the new people around me and not fictional characters. So, the majority of my recreational books have sadly remained on the same shelf all year.

Kristin Deegan

I love the size of Westmont. Everyday I see friendly, familiar faces while walking to class or sitting in the DC. It never gets old.

Fun Fact: If I don't have somewhere to be at a specific time, I find traffic to be relaxing. It's a convenient time to think and have some time to yourself, and if you are with someone, it's a great time for solid conversation.

What do you wish you had packed for college?

More pictures!

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

I probably shouldn't have packed as many clothes and pairs of shoes as I did. It was excessive and I only wore half of them.

Sarah Frigon

Major: Communication Studies

Hometown: Paso Robles, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

I love that i can thrive on personal relationships at Westmont, whether it is with my peers, the faculty, the staff administration, etc. I love that my faith is challenged as well as encouraged, and that differences are welcomed, not pushed against.

Karli Holman

Major: Chemistry

Hometown: San Diego, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

I love how Westmont faculty and staff pursue deep, lasting relationships with students. I feel known and loved by my professors, and they inspire me to grow both academically and spiritually as a whole, integrated person.

Fun Fact: I'm a ballet dancer! I took ballet classes for fourteen years before coming to Westmont, and have recently started getting back into it again after a year-and-a-half-long break.

What do you wish you had packed for college?

A frisbee!

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

Toilet paper. My mom insisted that I bring some, for who knows what reason, and I never even opened the roll. Thankfully, Westmont does provide that for you!

Danielle Ireland

Major: Communication Studies

Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

I love the people at Westmont! Both the students and the faculty have impacted my time here significantly! The friends I have made have changed my life with their constant willingness to challenge me, grow with me, and always make me laugh. The faculty members here are so caring and are truly invested in not only what goes on inside the classroom, but are invested in me as a person.

Fun Fact: I have my motorcycle license!

What do you wish you had packed for college?

A drying rack for my clothes.

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

So many jackets/sweaters.

A. It's Santa Barbara (and I'm from here...) so I don't know why I felt like I needed them.

Joseph Miller

Major: Economics/Business & Communication Studies

Hometown: Albany, OR

What do you love about Westmont?

What's not to love? Westmont is great because it is a place where you cannot only find yourself, but to better understand your identity in Christ as well. It's a fun and safe environment to grow and learn alongside people who really care for you and want to succeed with you.

Fun Fact: My most prestigious award is a trophy for winning 2nd place in a watermelon seed spitting contest when I was in the 6th grade.

Holli Morrow

The many fun activities on campus, like movie nights, basketball games, and bingo! They're fun and free ways to hang out with friends without having to go far.

Fun Fact: I have 3 freckles that make a perfect equilateral triangle on my hand. I've measured it. Each side is exactly one and an eighth inch.

What do you wish you had packed for college?

A robe! I thought it would be impractical and that I wouldn't use it, but it made the trip from the bathroom to my room much more comfortable, especially when the custodian is in the hall!

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

So many books. They just ended up taking up space that I wanted for my textbooks. Especially in a room with other people sharing one bookcase, you want to make sure you don't have a ton of stuff taking up space you won't use!

Danielle Romero

Major: Communication Studies

Hometown: Camarillo, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

I love the small environment of the school. The size of the classes allow for great discussions to occur. Since it is a small school, it is easy to get to know someone because there are multiple opportunities to meet people throughout the year.

Donald Scherschligt

Major: English

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

I love how there is always something to do - whether it's a dance, a guest lecture, or just playing games int eh dorms, you can always find interesting events going on. Even when I have to actually study or get work done, I can find friends who want to work together, and we always have so much fun.

Fun Fact: I once wrote a note to Benedict Cumberbatch explaining why we should be best friends, and I tried to give it to him when he walked by at a red carpet premiere.

What do you wish you had packed for college?

I really wanted to smuggle a puppy into my dorm.

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

As a birthday present, my mom got me a heavy-duty, puffy snow jacket and told me I should take it to school. I did, but the weather's so nice, I think I only used it once.

Joshua Siley-Waters

Major: Biology (Pre-Med)

Hometown: Northridge, CA

What do you love about Westmont?

Westmont community life. I love seeing the Westmont stickers/license plate frames on cars, followed by laughter and cheers as you enjoy one another's company on the weekends, or even in between classes, lunch, and even heading home.

Fun Fact: I am a huge fan of motorsport and technology. From simulation to go-karting to actual racing, I will always be a strong competitor; I can name every modern car and strongly value mobile and car tech. I can name the car that suits your personality, and trust me, you'll be happy.

Well, my first year was a hectic time, and it was made much worse by forgetting a couple things at home. Bring pillows, I can't stress this enough. Trying to sleep for a week without a pillow is rough. Blankets are a plus too.

What do you wish you hadn't packed?

My mom loves Costco, but really I only need a couple pens/pencils. Thanks mom for looking out for me, but the lifetime supply of writing utensils just takes up space in my precious desk.